Tape-measure.



A. Si. ANDERSON.

TAPE MEASURE.

APPLxcAT|oN`HLED MAH. 13, |917.

LQ D Patented e. 4, 19W.

titi

ANDREW E. ANDERSON, 0F BBJOW'NSVILLE, TEXAS.

TAPE-MEASURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4L, EMME/t Application filed. March 13, 1917. Serial No.154,451.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANDREW E. ANDER- 1 soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates of Amermeasure which will aid a person in malring measurementsalone; and in order to accomplish this, it is a purpose of thisinvention to furnish a releasing device for the attaching claw or toothwhen it is desired that the claw or tooth be released as well' asfurnish a protective shield for the point of the claw or tooth of theattaching device, when it is not in use, or is being dragged over theground or floor.

Another object of the inventionis the provision of a device of thecharacter above indicated which is comparatively simple in construction,durable, inexpensive of production, and automatic in its operation, andthe invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangementsVof parts as will be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated vtwo forms of theinvention which are physical embodiments of the best modes l have so fardevised for the practical application of the principles of my invention,but it will be understood that I contemplate using other forms ofsprings, which may be substituted for the flat springs utilized in theaccompanying exemplifications of my invention, and other changes oralterations may be made and are contemplated, without departing from thespirit of my invention or the scope of my claims.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings: Fig. l is atopplan view of the end of a tape line or tape measure having attachedthereto the device of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the device of Fig. 1 showing the attachingclaw in actual use as when measuring a lineal distance.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, in inoperativeposition, the spring acting as a shield or protection for the attachingclawi Fig. 4L is an end view of the device as in Fig. 8.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a slightly modified form of the attaching claw isillustrated, as also is the attachment of the tape to the plate somewhataltered. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the modified form of theinvention, and Fig. 6 is an end view of the device embodied in Fig. 5.

The attaching device of the first four iigures of the drawing comprisesa metallic plate l of suitable size and shape having a finger or thumbopening 2, and a slot 3 for the tape el, the tape being provided withthe usual graduations. At its forward or outer end the plate is formedwith a pair of hooks or claws 5, 5, preferably sharpened at 6 so thatthey may be embedded in wood or other similar material. In Fig. 2,however the claws are illustrated, as they would be used by a carpenter,and are fastened over the corner C, which may be the end of a timber,the corner of a house, or other angular object.

An automatic, quick release device for these claws is furnished by theflat spring 'i' which is preferably fashioned with an upwardly bent end8, and is attached or fixed to the plate l by having one end clampedaround a portion of the body of the plate as indicated at 9. Theresilient or operative portion of the spring is located under the plate,and the bent end or flange 8 of the spring is guided between the wallsof the open slot 10 formed at the end of the clamp and between the twoclaws or hooks 5 5.

The end of the tape line 4 may be attached to the spring as by a fixedring or loop 11 which surrounds the spring, and then the end of the tapemeasure is looped around this ring and stitched or sewed in the usualmanner.

lin the modified form of the invention as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, thetape measure is attached directly to the end of the plate l, the spring7a is attached to the plate as in the previous figures, but instead ofusing two claws or hooks, l utilize only one hook as 5a and the bent end8a is adapted to move up into the corner of the plate and claw when thedevice is in operative position.

In use both forms of the device are manipulated alike. When it isdesired to measure the top surface of the object in Fig. 2 the claw orhook is first caught over the end lliltil and the spring 7issimultaneously pressed against the surface of the object preferably bythe action of the thumb on the plate, and this pressure causes thedevice to assume the position of Fig. 2, wherein the claw or hook iscaught over the end of the object and the tape measure is held taut.lVith the line taut the measurement is taken and noted, and then theline or tape is slackened, and instantly the spring acts to lift theplate and free the claws of the corner C so that the tape may be woundas usual. Sometimes thedevice is used by pressing the points of theclaws into soft wood or other material and simultaneously tensioning thespring as before. In this case the line is also held taut formeasurements, but when the tape is slackened the tension of the springwill lift theelaws or prongs free of the material as in the firstinstance. It will thus be seen that the tape may be used by one person,who first hooks the claws over the corner of the. object and holds thetape taut while laying it upon the surface for measurement, and when themeasurement has been secured the claws are freed and the Vtape may bewound if desired from wherethe person is standing or has taken themeasurement, the spring acting as a shield or protection for thesharpened ends of the prongs as the device is dragged over the ground orsurface.

As before stated other forms of springs, may be used if desired forautomatically releasing the claws, and the form of the claws may bevaried to suit different conditions, z'. e. a plumber for his work wouldrequire the services of a hook, a carpenters work would best be adaptedfor the claws illustinted, a quarryman would use a straight prong, andiother jtradesmen would need speciiicforms of attaching members, but ineach case the spring will automatically release the device.

That I claim is:

l. The combination with a tapevmeasure of an attaching device comprisinga plate and ai' friction-holding member operative when the tape is taut,and means for releasing the attaching device when the tape is slackened.

2. The combination withV a tape measure having an attaching deviceoperative when the tape is taut, and a spring-coperating with saiddevice to release it when the tape is slackened.

3. The combination with a tape measure having an attaching device Ycomprising a friction holding member Voperative when the tape is heldtaut, and a compressed spring for releasing said device when the tape isslackened.

4. The combination with a tape measure of a plate having an end clawadaptedV to frictionally engage an object and a spring fastened to theplate adapted to release said claw.

5. The combination with a tape measure of a plate having an end clawadapted to frictionally engage an object, a spring fas-V tened to theplate adapted to release the claw, and said spring having a bent end forthe purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDREW E. ANDERSON.

Copies oi' this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

